Device for flanging can bodies



Dec. 20, 1949 O. J. TOFANELLI DEVICE FOR FLANGING CAN BODIES Filed Oct. 2, 1945 2 Shets-Sheet 1 T Q S 1 i g I i Hi ROI 0) Q a N g f "*5 m BBN N MN In N '0/ "x a; \1 m \k I -1- Q \1 0, uimma. 5] 7 Z ATTORNEYS 1949 o. J. TOFANELLI 2,491,535

DEVICE FOR FLANGING CAN BODIES 7 Filed Oct. 2, 1.945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Willi INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 20, 1949 DEVICE FOR FLANGING CAN BODIES Olinto J. Tofanelli, Oakland, Calif., assignor to American Can Com corporation of New pany, New York, Jersey N. Y., a

Application October 2, 1945, Serial No. 619,795 6 Claims. (Cl. 15325) The present invention relates to a device for flanging can or container bodies and has particular reference to a flanging head having a sectional outside support fianging ring.

In the manufacture of tearing strip cans it is sometimes necessary for desired results to place the encircling tearing strip close to an end of the cans. With such a location of the tearing strip the outer score line, which defines the outer boundary of the strip, is disposed close to the flange edge of the can body from which the can is made and is liable to rupture during the fianging of the can body.

In the can making industry the procedure usually followed in flanging can bodies is to make the pilot of the flanging head slightly larger than the inside diameter of the can body and then force the body over the pilot. This sometimes strains the body and subsequently results in open side seam laps either immediately after manufacture or during storage. It is this strain on the body which also ruptures the tearing strip score lines. When pilots of a dimension slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the can body have been used, considerable difficulty is encountered .in having the flange turn inwardly instead of outwardly with its resultant waste of material.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming' these difficulties by providing a fianging head L with a sectional support ring surrounding a pilot of a dimension smaller than the can body to be flanged so that injurious strains on the body will be eliminated while at the same time the wall of the body adjacent the tearing strip will be confined and reenforced during the flanging operation. thereby preventing rupture of the body Wall in the tearing strip score lines.

An object of the invention is the provision of a head for fianging can bodies having tearing strips wherein the head is formed with a sectional outside support flanging ring, engageable with the exterior surface of the tearing strip portion of a can body to reenforce and confine the body wall against rupture in the tearing strip score lines during the body flanging operation.

Another object is the provision of such a can body fianging head wherein the pilot of the head is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the can body to be flanged and is of sufficient length to support the inside surface of the tear ing strip portion of the body so that straining of the body side walls adjacent the end of the body will be eliminated. 7

. cans A (Fig. 5')

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a can body flanging head wherein the pilot and the sectional outside support ring provide wall confining guides for the body during the fianging operation so that the flange produced will be of a desired curvature having a line of bend beginning beyond and away from the outer score line of the tearing strip portion of the body so that fracture or rupture of this score line is prevented.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a part sectional and part elevational view of a can body flanging mechanism having a fianging head embodying the instant invention and showing a can body in place with parts broken away;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional details of a portion of the flanging head illustrated in Fig. 1

and showing the parts after fianging, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1 with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a tearing strip can body to be flanged; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the tearing strip portion of the body shown in Fig. 5

fianging sheet metal cylindrical having an encircling tearing strip B set off by a pair of spaced and parallel score lines 0 disposed closely adjacent the flange edge D of the body. In the mechanism a can body to be flanged is placed endwise between the two heads in the usual manner and the heads move inwardly against the ends of the body to However, to simplify the presentation of the present construction the two flangin heads H will be assumed to be identical in construction and operation, and a description and explanaand away from cated in-its bearing toward the other or opposite fianging head,

tion of one will suffice for both. Each flanging head includes a short cylindrical pilot l2 mounted on the inner end of an actuating rod !3 carried in a sleeve M slidably disposed in a bearing it of a frame l6 which may be the main frame of the flanging mechanism. The actuating rod E3 is reciprocated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the mechanism to shift the'pilot [2 into and out of fianging position.

The pilot [2 is formed with an outer cylindrical can body supporting and confining surf-ace having a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the can bodies A to be flanged, so that the ends of the bodies will nicely fit over the pilot. This surface is of sufiicient length to a distance beyond extend inside the can body for the innermost score line C so that the tearing strip portion B of the body is fully backed up or supported along its entire extent when a body is in position on the pilot. The inside confining surface 2! merges into an outwardly curved flanging seat 22 formed in a larger diameter base portion 23 of the pilot l2.

The inside confining surface 24 of the pilot 12 is surrounded by a sectional outside support flanging ring 25 which is formed with a plurality of contiguous hingedly mounted ring sections 26 (see Figs. 1 and 4). Each ring section 26 at its base is formed as a segmental toggle link 21 having curved or rounded end trunnions 28, 29. The curved inner trunnions are freely disposed in a similarly curved hinge seat 3i of pilot l2 which seat extends completely around the pilot and which is formed partly in the outer periphery of the base portion 23 of the pilot and partly in an annulus 32 secured by screws 3.3 to the base portion of :the pilot.

The outer curved or rounded trunnions 25 of the ring sections 2.6 are also freely disposed in a curved hinge seat .35 which extends completely around the inner surface of an annular retainer ring 36 threadedly secuied to the outer periphery of a disc 31 formed. as an integral part of the inner end of. the sleeve 14. The inner surface of the disc is-provided witha flat seat 32 which bears againstuthe outertrunnions 2e and keeps them in place their curved hinge seat 35.

Thus by movement "of thesleeve M along the pilot rod t3, the disc 31 may be shifted toward the base portion 23 of the pilot. This shifting of thedisc hinges or swings with a pivotal movement all ofthe ring sections 26 simultaneously on their rounded end trunnions 28, 29. For this purpose the sleeve hi is reciproinany suitable manner and in time with the othermoving parts of the mechanism.

The toggle link portion 21.0f each of the ring sections 253' is formed with an intermediate laterally projecting neck M which extends inwardly all of the neck sections thereby providing an annulus whichis disposed'outside and adjacent the pilot confining surface 21, Thi s'neck portion is formed with a curved body 'wall confining surface 42 for direct cooperation with the pilot confining surface 2|, The confining surfaces d2 of the ring sections are of sufficient length to cover the tearing strip portion B of a can body A as it rests on the pilot -!2 and when the rin sections are in operative position, as will now be explained. This surface terminates at its inner end a''cl.1rved fianging'seat defer co shown in that figure.

operation with the flanging seat 22 of the pilot 12.

In operation a can body A to be flanged preferably is placed in any suitable manner between the two spaced apart flanging heads ll so that the ends of the body are in alignment with the heads. The heads are then moved toward each other simultaneously to telescope the body over the pilots I2. During this inward movement of the heads the pilot rods l3 and the sleeves l4 move together as a unit. The disc 31 then is in a normal position, i. e., slightly spaced away from the pilot base 23, as shown in Fig. 3. This relation of disc and pilot holds the ring sections 26 in an outwardly hinged or open position, as As the heads continue to move toward each other, the body A slides along th pilots without any diametrical straining or stretching.

As the flange edges D of the body approach the curved flang-ing seats 22 in the pilots I2 (this position being shown in Fig. 2) the ring sections 28 of the outside flanging ring 25 move inwardly into closed position around the outside of the body. The flanging ring is in elosed position in Fig. 2. This has been brought about by a relative movement between the sleeve l4 and the pilot actuating rod 13. As the can body comes into the position of Fi'g. 2 the sleev moves inwardly at an increased rate of travel over that of the pilots and thusxhinging .of the ring sections 25 inwardly on their trunnions 28, 29 takes place. This inward movement of the ring sections 26 brings their confining surfaces 42 into engagement with the outside of the can body with a slight pressure providing a slip grip while still permitting'the body to 'moav'e'toward the flanging seat 22-.

The closed ring sections 26 thus form a .continnous engaging:annularsupporting ring around the outside surface of the can body adjacent its ends. At the tearing strip end'of the body this supporting ring fully backs up and supports the tearing strip portion B and. thereby prevents fracture of the score linesat this end of the body during the flanging operation which follows .immediately.

In this closed or operative position .of the ring sections 26 their outside icurved flanging seats 43 are in spaced relation to the curved flange seats 22 of the pilots, as best shown in Fig. 2.

This provides an accurate'curved forming channel or pass between the'curved seats of a dimension substantially that of the "thickness of the can body wall. Hence :as the inward travel or the heads H continues, the flange edge D of the cam body is forced into this forming channel and is thus accurately curv-ed'outwardly into a flange (Fig. .6) for the body.

During this flange forming operation the wall of the body is accurately confined between and guided by the seat 22 in the pilot I2 and by the seat 63 formed by thering sections 26. Thus'the curvature of the flange is controlled so that its line of bend begins well beyond and. away from the outer score line C of thetearin strip B. In this manner the bending of the'flange is prevented from taking place at What is the vulnerable part, i. e., at the score line and thus fracture or rupture of the body wall at this line is prevented.

The fianging action terminated when the flange edge D of the body engages against the inn'er'surface -of the neckportion "41 of the ring sections 22 (Fig. 1). This neck portion thus forms a stop which determines the length of -.=the flange E; i v I -Termination of the fianging action is immediately followed by stoppage of any further inward movement of the heads I I. The travel of the sleeves l4 and their discs 31 is immediately reversed while the pilot actuating rods !3 remain stationary momentarily. This reverse hinges the ring sections 26 outwardly into an open or non-operative position to release and clear the flanges E on the body, as best shown in Fig. 3. While the ring sections are in this open position, the pilot actuating rods move back with the sleeves and thus withdraw the pilots from inside the flanged body. This completes the cycle; of operation of the fianging heads.

. It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advanages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a device for fianging can bodies having a tearing strip set off by score lines disposed adjacent a flange edge of the bodies, the combination of a pilot over which a can body to be flanged is telescoped for a fianging operation, said pilot having a can body wall confining surface for backing up the inner surface of the tearing strip portion of the body and also having a fianging seat at the termination of said confining surface for bending the flange edge of the body outwardly into a body flange, a member movable independently of and relative to said pilot, a plurality of ring sections arranged around said pilot and hingedl connected to said pilot and to said member for forming a sectional outside support flan"- ing ring engageable in a slip grip with the outer surface of a can body on said pilot and forming a continuous support completely around the body for backing up the tearing strip portion of the body during the fianging operation to prevent rupture of the score lines therein, and means for shifting said movable member relative to said pilot to hinge said ring sections into engagement with said body for the hanging operation.

2. In a device for fianging can bodies having a tearing strip set off by score lines disposed adjacent a flange edge of the bodies, the combination of a pilot over which a can body to be flanged is telescoped for a fianging operation, said pilot having a can body wall confining surface for backing up the inner surface of the tearing strip portion of the body and having a fianging seat at the termination of said confining surface for bending the flange edge of the body outwardly into a flange for the body, a member movable independently of and relative to said pilot, a plurality of ring sections arranged around and setting ofi a sectional outside support fianging ring surrounding said pilot, a pair of trunnions formed on each of said ring sections, said trunnions being disposed in annular seats formed in said pilot and in said movable member, and means for shifting said movable member relative to said pilot for rocking said ring sections into engagement with a cam body on said pilot and for holding them in such engagement with a slip grip on the body for backing up the tearing strip portion of the body during the fianging operation to prevent rupture of the score lines therein.

. pilot for internally 3. Means for'flanging can bodies, comprising a pilot for internally supporting a tubular can body having a weakened area therein set oiT by score lines, said pilot having a peripheral hinge seat spaced longitudinally outwardly from the end of the can body to be flanged and a peripheral flanging seat disposed between said hinge seat and said can body end, a fianging ring member composed of a plurality of ring sections each having a bear-' ing portion freely mounted in said hinge seat for swinging movement towards and away from said internally supported can body, means engaging said ring member outwardly of said pilot, and means for effecting relative movement between said pilot and said ring member engaging means axially of the pilot to swing the ring member on its said hinge seat into exterior slip grip clamp-'- ing engagement with the weakened area of the internally supported can body for backing up said area during the fianging operation on the body end by said fianging seat on the pilot to insure against rupture of said score lines.

4. Means for fianging can bodies, comprising a pilot for internally supporting a tubular can body having a weakened area therein set off by score lines, said pilot having a peripheral hinge seat spaced longitudinally outwardly from the end of the can body to be flanged and a peripheral fianging seat disposed between said hinge seat and said can body end, a fianging ring member composed of a plurality of ring sections each having a bearing portion freely mounted in said hinge seat for swinging movement towards and away from said internally supported can body, a retainer ring engaging said flanging ring member outwardly of said pilot, and means for moving said retainer ring relative to said pilot to swing the fianging ring member on its said hinge seat into exterior slip grip clamping engagement with the weakened area of the internally supported can body for backing up said area during the fianging operation on the body end by said fianging seat on the pilot to insure against rupture of said score lines.

5. Means for fianging can bodies, comprising a supporting a tubular can body having a weakened area therein set off by score lines, said pilot having a curved peripheral hinge seat spaced longitudinally outwardly from the end of the can body to be flanged and a curved peripheral fianging seat disposed between said hinge seat and said can body end, a fianging ring member composed of a plurality of ring sections each having an angularly and inwardly extending enlarged bearing portion of substantially circular cross section freely mounted in said hinge seat for swinging movement of the ring member towards and away from said internally supported can body, said ring sections each also having an oppositely disposed angularly and outwardly ex tending enlarged bearing portion of substantially circular cross section, an annular retaining ring spaced outwardly from and surrounding said pilot and having a curved bearing seat engaging said last mentioned bearing portions of said fianging ring member sections, and means for moving said retaining ring axially of said pilot for swinging the multi-section fianging ring member on its said hinge seat into exterior slip grip clamping engagement with the weakened area of the internally supported can body for backing up said area during the fianging operation on the body end by said fianging seat on the pilot to insure against rupture of said score lines.

6. Means for fianging can bodies, comprising a pilot for internally supporting a tubular can v motile-a body having. a. weakened areaathereimlsetofiby score lines, said pilot having; a curvedperipheral hinge seat spaced. longitudinally outwardly; from the end: of the can body tube flanged and a poripheral curved fianging seat... disposed between form a channel thei ebetweenwhenathe ring is; 15 I 153360,

disposed inoperative position againstia canbody' supported by said. pilot: to confine and accurately form the flangeion the canbody inlpredetermineci: spacedwrelation tosaid score lines, and meansiene gaging said ring, member and movable relative to said. pilot for swinging the. ring member on said:

hinge mama: exteriomslipgri clamping: em gagement with the weakened area of the inten nal-ly supported lean bodyfon backing. up said area duringwte-iiiangingi operation on the body end by said fianging. seat on the pilot todnsure against rupture-of said SGOZBKHHESLT- r a w I OLIN'IIO J;.. TOFANEILI.

7 "REFERENCES oi'mnf'rneiipnowi'ng' 'rjefe'fenes' ai'e '6! icbid'in the me of s'wi mi: i v.

v TEDSTATESPATENTS Nomber Name mp. Wagner Aiig-. 22, i882 318,088 Cooper May 19, 16885" 608 950 q Brookes- Aiig; 9'; 1898 "l--,403', 1 20 Ki use Jamil); 1922 15 95-232 Fink Dec; 11,1928 1 17193759 Fink July 2; 1929 2,119,666 Cameron June '7, 1938 

